Uber has said it will formally recognise GMB, which can now represent up to 70,000 Uber drivers across the UK.

The move builds on changes made earlier this year which guarantee all drivers the National Living Wage, holiday pay, and a pension plan.

Uber is the only major private hire operator to offer these protections.

Under the landmark agreement, GMB and Uber will work together on a number of key areas.

These include national earnings principles, including Uber’s National Living Wage guarantee and holiday pay, pension, including how to encourage drivers to enrol and contribute, discretionary benefits, including free AXA insurance for sickness and injury, and Uber’s driver loyalty programme.

Health, safety, and wellbeing will also be considered, including ensuring drivers are safe when working on the app.

GMB will also play a role representing drivers if they lose access to the Uber app.

GMB and Uber leadership will meet quarterly to discuss driver issues and concerns.

Uber has agreed access rights for GMB representatives at driver hubs to enable them to meet and support drivers.

Drivers also continue to receive free insurance which covers sickness or injury, as well as parental payments, which has been in place for all drivers since 2018.

“This groundbreaking deal between GMB and Uber could be the first step to a fairer working life for millions of people,” said Mick Rix, national officer, GMB. “History has been made. This agreement shows gig economy companies don't have to be a wild west on the untamed frontier of employment rights.”

Rix added: “When tech private hire companies and unions work together like this, everyone benefits - bringing dignified, secure employment back to the world of work. We now call on all other operators to follow suit.”

Jamie Heywood, regional general manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, Uber said: “Whilst Uber and GMB may not seem like obvious allies, we’ve always agreed that drivers must come first, and today we have struck this important deal to improve workers’ protections.”

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